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Comparing The Three Branches Of The Federal Government

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Comparing The Three Branches Of The Federal Government
What are the three branches of the federal government and their powers? Give an example of how one branch might check the power of another branch.

The United States Government is designed so that no one part of the government has too much power, the creators of the Constitution were diligent in outlining the structure of our government in the Articles. The division of power is outlined specifically in the first three articles. The three branches of the federal government consist of the executive branch, the legislative branch and the judicial branch. The descriptions outlined in the Constitution clearly state the scope and limitations of each branch and how they serve as checks and balances for each other.

James Madison played a pivotal role in the drafting of the Articles of the Constitution. Madison’s model of government focuses on “dispersing power among several branches and establishing constitutional safeguards to prevent any single person or group of people from controlling the government.” Madison worked closely with other delegates to shape the final document; for this reason, he is sometimes called the “Father of the Constitution.” (1) (Spark Notes Editors) Madison believed in Federalism: which is the division of power between the federal government and the states, which allows the different levels of government
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This separation of powers ensures that no branch becomes powerful enough to overtake the other two. The legislative branch, otherwise known as Congress, makes the laws, the executive branch, AKA the president and vice-president, enforces the laws, and the judicial branch, the courts (including but not limited to the Supreme Court, interprets the law. Each branch functions independently from the others, each having its own powers and area of influence. No branch can accomplish anything of major importance without the cooperation of at least one of the

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